Date of Birth: July 21, 1899
Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Date of Death: April 27, 1932
Biography
Hart Crane, born Harold Hart Crane, was an influential American poet known for his modernist style and profound use of language. Born on July 21, 1899, in Garrettsville, Ohio, Crane grew up in a family that experienced both economic success and personal turmoil. His father, Clarence Arthur Crane, was a successful businessman who invented the Life Savers candy, while his mother, Grace Edna Hart, struggled with mental health issues. Crane’s early life was turbulent, marked by his parents’ divorce and his own struggles with his sexuality. Despite these challenges, he found solace in literature and poetry. He dropped out of high school and moved to New York City, where he became part of the vibrant literary scene. Crane’s work was heavily influenced by the works of T.S. Eliot and Walt Whitman, and he sought to create a uniquely American form of poetry. His most famous work, “The Bridge,” published in 1930, is considered a masterpiece of American modernist poetry. The poem celebrates the Brooklyn Bridge as a symbol of American ingenuity and optimism. Despite his literary success, Crane struggled with depression and alcoholism, and his personal life was often chaotic. Tragically, Crane’s life was cut short when he committed suicide by jumping off the steamship SS Orizaba into the Gulf of Mexico on April 27, 1932. He left behind a significant but small body of work that continues to influence poets and writers to this day.
5 Interesting Facts about Hart Crane
1. Hart Crane’s father invented the Life Savers candy, which provided financial stability for the family.
2. Crane was heavily influenced by the works of T.S. Eliot and Walt Whitman.
3. His most famous poem, “The Bridge,” celebrates the Brooklyn Bridge as a symbol of American innovation.
4. Crane struggled with his sexuality in a time when it was not widely accepted, which contributed to his emotional turmoil.
5. He spent his final years traveling and writing, often facing financial difficulties and battling alcoholism.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Hart Crane
1. “One must be drenched in words, literally soaked in them, to have the right ones form themselves into the proper pattern at the right moment.”
2. “The bottom of the sea is cruel.”
3. “And so it was I entered the broken world to trace the visionary company of love, its voice an instant in the wind.”
4. “I think of you as a part of myself, and I am almost sure that you will be able to understand this better than anyone else will.”
5. “My life has been the poem I would have writ, But I could not both live and utter it.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Hart Crane did not achieve significant financial success during his lifetime. His net worth was modest, and he often faced financial difficulties.
Children
Hart Crane did not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [Hart Crane – Poetry Foundation](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/hart-crane
2. [Hart Crane – Biography](https://www.biography.com/writer/hart-crane
3. [The Bridge – Analysis](https://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/crane/section1/
4. [Hart Crane’s Letters](https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1970/10/22/the-letters-of-hart-crane/
5. [Hart Crane – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hart_Crane
